Lamp holder for elongated fluorescent lamps



June 27, 1950 R. H. WILLIAMS LAMPHOLDER FOR ELONGATED FLUORESCENT LAMPS Filed March 27, 1948 Q/JiI INVENTOR. H Wl/[lQ/TIS BY 7 MM,

ATTORNEY Paoh Patented June 27, 1950 mmnomna roa anoncs'rsn nuoaascsn'r mmrs Ralph B. Williams, Dinvers, Masa, assigns:

Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Salem, Mala,

a corporation of Massachusetts 'Application March 27, 1948, Serial No. 17,471

This invention relates to lampholders and more particularly to lampholders for elongated linear light sources, such as fluorescent lamps for example. I

An, object of this invention is to provide a lampholder for fluorescent lamps which will provide a firm positive seating of the lamp base con: tacts or pins therein and obviate the possibility of accidental pin disengagement.

Another object is to provide a lampholder which facilitates the insertion of a lamp therein.

A further object is to provide a lampholder which facilitates the removal of a lamp therefrom.

Further objects, advantages and features will be apparent from the following description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a fluorescent lamp mounted in lampholders of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the lampholder.

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the lamp holder with the back plate removed.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail in section of the upper portion of the lampholder showing the lamp base pins in seated position, the disposition of the pin block and spring contact fingers during insertion of the lamp being shown in phantom.

The lampholder of my invention comprises a body member I of insulating material provided with an opening 2 in the face thereof, through whicha pin block 3 of insulating material projects, a back plate 4 of insulating'material which covers the opening 5 in the rear face of the body member, and a base 6 which is preferably formed integral with the body member I. The-opening 5 provides a chamber in which a pair of resilient metal contact fingers I are mounted by means of screws l4 which fasten the lower portion of the fingers to the lamp body member. Connection of the contact fingers to a source of electrical energy may be made by threading wires (not shown) through apertures l in the base i to screw contact terminals 3 on the lower ends of the contact fingers.

The pin block 3 is a block of insulating material which preferably has a slightly convex face to facilitate mounting of the lamp therein. The pin block is provided with two apertures ll therein extending from the face and through the Y 4 Claims. (01. 113-328) body thereof, and two channels ll therein which extend from the periphery of the apertures It, across the upper face, and preferably across at least a portion of the top of the block. The pin block 3 is mounted on the upper ends of the contact fingers 1 by means of block pins I2 of metal. The shank of the pins l2 extend into the apertures Ill and the tip thereof, which is preferably concave, is engaged by the ends of the lamp base pins. Thus the block pins serve as a means through which electrical energy is transmitted from the resilient contact fingers I to the lamp base pins I3 as well as the means for mounting the pin block on the contact fingers. The tips of the pins I! are preferably concave to provide a greater and more positive engagement area between the lamp base pins and the block pins.

In operation, insertion of a lamp in the holders of my invention is accomplished by applying go pressure along the longitudinal axis of the lamp and perpendicular thereto. The force thus exerted will be transmitted through the lamp base pins II, which are disposed in the channels ii, to the pin block 3. Since the pin block 3 is mounted on the upper ends of the resilient contact fingers I, the force exerted will cause the fingers l to flex rearwardiy and draw with it the pin block 3. Further application of pressure to the lamp will fiex the contact fingers and displace the pin block sufiiciently to permit the lamp base pins l3 to ride into the apertures l0. As soon as the pins i3 seat in the apertures ill the resilient contact fingers 1 will return to their normal position and carry with them the pin block 3. The return of the pin block 3 to its normal position effects a secure and positive seating of the lamp in the lampholders with the lamp pins l3 disposed in the apertures i0 and in positive contact with the concave tip of the block pins i2.

Removal of lamps from the lampholders of my invention can only be effected-by the application of a suflicient force along the longitudinal axis of the lamp and parallel to it to displace the pin block in one of the lampholders suificiently to effect the withdrawal of the base pins from the apertures II in the pin block of the other lampholder. Once the base pins on one end of the lamp have been withdrawn from the lampholder, the other end of the lamp can be readily removed from its holder by a simple linear movement.

The ease of insertion and removal of lamps mounted in lampholders of my invention are substantial improvements over other lampholders,

many of which require a careful alignment of base pins with a slot in the top of the lampholder before the inserting operation can be started and then require a rotating action to effect the seating of the lamp. If the alignment of pins and rotation of the lamp are not done with considerable care'and skill. improper seating and destruction of the lampholders result.

Another feature of the lampholder is the end contacts for the lamp pins instead of the side contacts which usually characterize other lampholders. The end contacts give a decidedly superior positive contact throughout life whereas the engagement of the lamp base pins with side contacts many times becomes less positive during life because of the repeated flexing of the spring contact fingers during each insertion and withdrawal.

What I claim is:

1. A holder for linear light sources having base pins projecting from the ends thereof, said holder comprising a body member of insulating material having an opening in the front face thereof and an opening in the rear face thereof; resilient metal contact fingers mounted in the opening in the rear face of said body member; and a pin block of insulating material mounted on said contact fingers and projecting through the opening in the front face of the body member, said pin block having apertures therein within which the light-source base pins may be seated.

2, A holder for linear light sources having base pins propecting from the ends thereof, said holder comprising a body member of insulating material having an opening in the front face thereof and an opening inthe rear face thereof; resilient metal contact fingers mounted in the opening in the rear face of said body member; and a pin block of insulating material mounted on said contact fingers and projecting through the opening in the front face of the body member, said pin block having apertures therein extending from the front face and through the body thereof, and

4 channels therein extending from the apertures across a portion of the front face thereof.

3. A holder for linear light sources having base pins projecting from the ends thereof, said holder comprising a body member of insulating material having an opening in the front face thereof; resilient metal contact fingers mounted in said body member; and a pin block of insulating material mounted on said contact fingers and projecting through the opening in the front face of the body member. said pin block having a convex front face, apertures therein extending from the front face and through the body thereof, and channels therein extending from the apertures across a portion of the front face thereof.

4. A holder for linear light sources having base pins projecting from the ends thereof, said holder comprising a body member of insulating material having an opening in the front face thereof and an opening in the rear thereof; resilient metal contact fingers mounted in the opening in the rear of the body member; a pin block of insulating material mounted on said contact fingers and projecting through the opening in the front face of the body member, said pin block having a convex front face, apertures therein extending from the front face and through the body thereof, and channels therein extending from the apertures across a portion of.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,004,610 Jones June 11, 1935 2,283,454

Osterloo May 19, 1942 

